Orrin a



(No Model.)

0. A. WHEELER.

GASTANET.

No. 464,684. Patented Dec.. 8, 1891.

@645 CQW'M a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ORRIN A. IVHEELER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE \VHEELER NOVELTY COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CASTAN ET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 464,684, dated December 8, 1891.

Application filed April 28, 1891. Serial No. 390,787. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ORRIN A. \VHEELER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Castanets, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The object of myinvention is to supply an instrument producing a double rattle and trilling sound, and one at the same time that can be manipulated by persons of ordinary musical ability.

It relates to improvements in castanets, and is played by a sharp turn or vibrating motion of the hand to produce a trilling sound or rattle accessory to the rhythm of a musical production, song and dance; or it may be used simply as a toy for children.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of acastanet constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is asectional front view taken from center of the foregoing.

C is an elastic strip of steel or other suitable metal having weights D,D', and E,of lead, brass, or iron, firmly attached thereto.

A and ,B are pieces of curved hard wood, or they may beof metal, between which the vibrating tongue C is fastened by the rivets F.

H and G are metallic sounders or jingles .loosely attached to the ends of the curved pieces A and B by the rivets F F in such a manner that the weight E will strike them at or about the same time that I) strikes the curved pieces A B.

To make this instrument in its simplest form, the sounders II and G and the weight E are left off or the sounders II and G may be attached to but one end of A and I3, as shown in the drawings; but when constructed in its entirety the sounders II and G are attached to both ends, and a weight similar to E is affixed to each end of the vibrating tongue C.

All the sounders on one instrument may be like H, or they maybe like G, or two of them may be like II and two like G.

This castanet is played by taking it between the fingers at or near F F, and covering the lower portion or one end with the hand, and with a quick twist of the same the vibrating tongue is set in motion, while its weighted ends are caused to strike with more or less force against the sides of A and B and the metallic sounders II and G producing a peculiar sound, which can be modulated by properly mufiiing and manipulating the lower portion of the instrument with the hand.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. As an improved article of manufacture, a castanet consisting of the outwardly -detlected parts A and B, secured together about their middle, and the vibrating tongue C, provided at each end with a weight or enlargement and fastened between the pieces A and B, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

. 2. Acastanet consisting of apair of curved parts A and B, having metallic sounders ll and G, loosely attached to one end of each, and between which is fastened the vibrating tongue C, having weights D, D, and E, substantially as shown, and for the purpose described.

3. In a castanet, the combination of the curved partsA and B, the metallic sounders II and G, loosely attached, one to each end of A and B, and the vibrating tongue C, having weights I) and E, attached firmly to each end, substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereto affiXed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ORRIN A. wI-IEELEE.

' Attest:

ANNIE G. WHEELER, DAISY WHEELER. 

